Dobby machines

ABSTRACT

Improvements in dobby machines, which improvements comprise a heald actioning device consisting of two horizontal shafts across the width of the dobby machine and carrying individual sets of eccentrics, each of which is connected to the lifter-motion drive. A horizontal tie-rod has one end thereof connected to the lifter-motion drive substantially at the center of gyration thereof and is subjected to a reciprocating displacement due to the eccentric rotation. The opposite end of the tie-rod is articularly connected to the central part of a vertical lever, the one end of which is pivotally connected to a shaft, the other end of the lever driving the corresponding heald formation.

O 1 United States Patent 1 [111 3,726,32 Xaus 51 Apr. 10, 1973 [54] DOBBY MACHINES 410,809 10/1966 Switzerland ..139/66 R 485,887 3/1970 Switzerland ..139/68 [76] Inventorgg iizg ii Legahdad 456,484 7/1968 Switzerland ..139/68 [22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1970 Primary ExaminerJames Kee Chi [2i] Appl No 87 164 Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [57] ABSTRACT 30 Fore A lication Prio Data 1 lg pp nty Improvements in dobby machines, which improve- NOV. 13, 1969 Spain "373 748 mer ts comprise a actioning device onsisting of two horizontal shafts across the width of the dobby [52] US. Cl ..l39/68 machine and carrying individual Sets of eccentrics, each of is connected to the lifter motion drive. 1 I o are "139/ A horizontal tie-rod has one end thereof connected to the lifter-motion drive substantially at the center of gyration thereof and is subjected to a reciprocating [56] References cued displacement due to the eccentric rotation. The op- UNITED STATES PATENTS posite end of the tie-rod is articularly connected to the central part of a vertical lever, the one end of which is 3,554,238 1/1971 l-loemg ..139/68 p y connected to a shaft the Other end of the 3,285,291 11/1966 Favre ..139/68 3,3817 '19 5/1968 Favre i :139 /68 lever driving the corresponding heald formation. 3,441,060 4/1969 Schwarz ..l39/68 10 Cl 3 Drawing F g I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 396,792 1/1966 Switzerland ..139/66 R f "I" A? r 42 43 #,7 49 9 I J KWM 1 25 O o; 5! l PATENTED APIH 0 I375 SHEET 1 or I nuenlor 6596/0 65PM Mas M A/M $642M A! may! PATENTEDLPR 1 0 ma sum 2 OF 3 Inpenlor m s/0 JAE/J mas M EM ivy, A Orneyg PATEHTEB APR 1 0 i375 SHEET 3 0F 3 DOBBY MACHINES This invention refers to improvements in dobby machines as utilized in looms, for realizing double lift open shed with variable raising and lowering, different shedding positions, and distinct crossing points of individual sheds for each heald formation, with different oscillations and times thereof, in accordance with the form and position of the control tappets.

These improvements comprise essentially a heald actioning device consisting of two horizontal shafts across the width of the dobby machine carrying the pertinent individual sets of eccentrics, each of which is connected to a lifter motion drive having its center of gyration connected to the extremity of a horizontal tie-rod which is subjected to a reciprocating displacement due to movement of the lifter as caused by rotation of the eccentrics. The other end of the tie rod is pivotally connected to the middle part of a vertical lever. One extremity of the lever is articulated that oscillates on a shaft, while its other extremity displaces a further tierod that promotes the oscillation of a jack lever, whose free extremity drives the corresponding heald formation, the jack lever being tensioned at its articulation extremity by a spiral spring.

The lifter is constituted by a symmetrically curved piece with an arm at each extremity, provided with rollers, one of which contacts with an upper eccentric while the other contacts the lower eccentric, and in this manner with its rolling, promotes the oscillation of the piece around its center gyratory axis articulated at the extremity of the horizontal tie-rod, causing it to make a reciprocating displacement, which tie-rod is guided close to the gyration point of the lifter to prevent verti cal displacement thereof. The tie-rod comprises two pieces sheathed one within the other, to be able to dismount same, to facilitate maintenance, separating the two parts.

Moreover, extreme eccentrics exist on each shaft, for controlling actuate levers of cranked form, on whose free extremity there is a contactor roller which engages the periphery of the eccentric, while the other extremity of each lever oscillates with its longitudinal shaft.

In the center of the elbow of each cranked levers, is mounted a retention hook, that can block one of the extreme arms of the lifter, hooking to an internal shaft mounted between the two walls that form the body of the lifter and whose gyratory action of each retention hook is caused by the actuation of a needle that transverses an appendix, salient in the hub of the hook, through a hole for this purpose, and which needle is actuated by a lever provided with another needle with central buckle, oscillated by the needles of the drawing of endless chain of cartons, actuated by the auxiliary mechanism to this effect.

The shafts of the eccentricsare driven by an exterior shaft, that upon entering the dobby box shows a tapered gear wheel that engages with a driving tapered wheel of the lower shaft of the eccentrics which has a straight toothed wheel solid at its posterior face, and which straight toothed wheel gears with a wheel solid with the shaft of the upper eccentrics, these wheels being mutually out of phase. In order to facilitate this explanation, some sheets of drawings are included with this memorandum, in which one case of realization is represented as an example only. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional cross view in elevation of the dobby machine on the line BB of the FIG. 2, said FIG. 1 representing two sets of eccentrics and levers of the multiples that lodge the dobby machine.

FIG. 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the dobby in elevation, according to the line A-A of the FIG. ll.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrating therein the movement for a single heald jack.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated an upper horizontal shaft 1 nonrotatably supporting as many eccentrics 3 as there are heald formations. The lower horizontal shaft 2 nonrotatably supports corresponding eccentrics 5, the eccentrics 3 and 5 being of determined profile and colocation in order to secure shed stops from 40 to 120, or from 80 to 240 with relation to the batten stop of the loom. A pair of counterbalance eccentrics 4 are nonrotatably mounted on the shaft 1 adjacent the opposite ends thereof, between which are positioned the plurality of eccentrics 3. A similar pair of counterbalance eccentrics 6 are nonrotatably mounted on the shaft 2 adjacent the opposite ends thereof and are disposed on opposite ends of the plurality of eccentrics 5. The eccentrics 4i and 6 each substantially comprise circular disks having a single recess or cavity 41 formed in the periphery thereof.

The eccentrics 4 and 6 are engaged by rollers 42 which are rotatably supported on the free ends of the crank-shaped levers 7, which levers 7 are rotatably supported adjacent their other ends on support shafts l3.

' The levers'7 have shafts 9 fixedly mounted thereon and projecting therefrom substantially at the elbow-like center of the levers, and hooks 8 are supported on the shafts 9 and are positioned for engagement with shafts Ml mounted on the lifter or balance member l l.

The lifter 11 has rollers 43 rotatably supported adjacent the opposite ends thereof, which rollers are positioned for engagement with the eccentrics 3 and 5. The lifter 11, in the illustrated embodiment, is constructed from a pair of spaced plates for permitting the rollers 43 to be supported therebetween, with the spaced plates also being connected by the shafts 44 extending therebetween, which shafts are positioned for engagement by the hooks 3 to permit the lifter to be blocked or locked relative to the crank-like levers 7.

A horizontally elongated, reciprocal tie-rod 10 extends between the rows of eccentrics 3 and 5 and has one end thereof pivotally connected, as by a pin 29, to the lifter ill. The pin 49 is located substantially at the center of the lifter 11, thereby enabling the lifter to pivot about the pin 419 relative to the tie-rod in response to rotation of the eccentrics 3 and 5. The tie-rod 1th is preferably guided by a pair of spaced guide rollers 48 which prevent vertical displacement of the rightward end of the tie-rod and of the lifter Ill. The tie-rod 10, which is preferably constructed of two axially separable parts do and 47, has the other end thereof pivotally connected, as by means of a pivot pin 51, to a vertical lever l5 substantially adjacent the center thereof.

The lower end of lever 15 is articulated on a shaft 52, and the upper end of lever 15 is pivotally connected to a further tie-rod 16. The further tie-rod 16 in turn is pivotally connected to a jack lever 17 substantially ad'- jacent the center portion thereof. The upper end of the jack lever 17 is adapted to be connected to and activate a heald formation of a loom in a conventional manner,

whereas the lower end of the jack lever is pivotally articulated on a shaft 53. The jack lever has a downwardly extending projection 54 on which is hooked an intermediate member 56, which member in turn is connected to a spring 57 which has its other end anchored to the dobby frame, whereby the spring thus normally resiliently urges the jack lever 17 in a counterclockwise direction to thus urge the lifter l1 and the rollers 43 thereon into engagement with the eccentrics 3 and 5,

In operation of the device, the hooks 8 as provided on the crank levers 7 may be activated, due to the programing of the machine, so that one or both hooks may engage the shafts 44 to thus lock or block one or both ends of the lifter 11 to thereby control the movement of the jack lever 17.

To cause rotation of the eccentrics, there is provided an external driving shaft 18 (see FIG. 2) having a tapered gear wheel, such as a bevel gear, mounted thereon. The tapered gear wheel 19 meshes with a further tapered gear wheel 20 which is nonrotatably mounted on the end of the lower horizontal shaft 2. The tapered gear wheel 20 is also nonrotatably connected to a straight toothed gear 21 which is mounted on the shaft 22 and is disposed in meshing engagement with a further straight toothed gear 22 which is nonrotatably mounted on the end of the upper horizontal shaft 1. Rotation of the shaft 18 thus causes corresponding but oposite rotations of the shafts l and 2.

The device also includes an endless drawing pro grammizer 23 for the work to be realized by the elements of the dobby machine. Needles 24 activate the endless drawing 23. An oscillating lever 25 actuates the horizontal needles 26. The vertical needles 27 have a central loop and are slideable within upper and lower straight edge guide devices 28 and 29, respectively. The needles 27 are moved by the elevator shaft 30 which is connected to a cranked lever 31, the latter being oscillated by the eccentrics 32. Flat plates 33, which are oscillatory about their centers, and in whose extremities oscillate the needles for the hooks 38, and due to the end arc formed on the needles themselves, cause the needles 34 to be moved upwards and downwards so that the needles promote the oscillation of the tension book 38 through the vertical hole formed in the posterior appendix 35. I

The movement of the hooks 38 may be given by the known and circumstantial mechanism described or by any other system of reading of two to four needles already known in the technique of dobby machines, or it may be by electric impulsions.

The invention, within its essentiallity, may be realized in practice in other forms differing in detail from that indicated in the description as an example only. Therefore, it may be constructed in any form or size with the most adequate materials, all of which shall be comprehended within the spirit of the claims.

Having described this invention, the following claims are declared as new and of my invention:

1. in a dobby machine having a heald actuating device, said device comprising:

upper and lower substantially horizontal shafts defining first and second rotational axes, respectively; first and second rotatable eccentrics mounted on said upper and lower shafts, respectively;

a vertically oriented balance member positioned adjacent said shafts and movable within a vertical plane which is substantially perpendicular to said axes, said balance member having first and second follower means provided thereon adjacent the opposite ends thereof and disposed for engagement with the peripheries of said first and second eccentrics, respectively;

a substantially horizontally elongated tie-rod having one end thereof pivotally connected to said balance member adjacent the center thereof, said tie-rod being reciprocable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said shafts;

guide means coacting with said tie-rod at least adjacent said one end thereof for permitting reciprocation of said tie-rod in said direction while substantially preventing vertical movement of said one end of said tie-rod;

a jack lever and means mounting same for pivotal movement within a vertical plane which is substantially perpendicular to said axes, one end of said jack lever being connectable to a heald formation for actuating same;

means pivotally interconnecting the other end of said tie-rod to said jack lever for causing pivotal movement thereof in response to reciprocation of said tie-rod; and

resilient means resiliently urging said balance member toward said eccentrics whereby said first and second follower means are normally engaged with the peripheries of said first and second eccentrics, respectively.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said jack lever and said balance member are disposed on opposite side of said shafts, and said tie-rod being positioned horizontally between said shafts and projecting outwardly on opposite sides thereof for pivotal connection to said balance member and said jack lever.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the means pivotally connecting the other end of said tierod to said jack lever includes intermediate vertically swingable lever means pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement within a plane substantially parallel to the plane of swinging movement of said jack lever, the other end of said tie-rod being pivotally connected to said intermediate lever means, and a connecting rod extending between and pivotally connected to said intermediate lever means and said jack lever.

4. A machine according to claim 3, further including drive means drivingly connected to said upper and lower horizontal shafts for causing rotation of said upper and lower shafts and of the eccentrics mounted thereon in opposite directions.

5. A machine according to claim 1, further including third and fourth rotatable eccentrics mounted on said upper and lower shafts, respectively, said third and fourth eccentrics being respectively coaxial and rotatable with said first and second eccentrics;

first and second vertically swingable lever means respectively positioned adjacent said third and fourth eccentrics, said first and second lever means respectively having third and fourth follower means thereon positioned for engagement with the peripheries of said third and fourth eccentrics, respectively;

pivot means swingably mounting said first and second lever means on said frame for swinging movement within vertical planes substantially perpendicular to the axes of said upper and lower shafts, said first and second lever means each being vertically swingable about an axis spaced from the axes of said upper and lower shafts;

first and second hook means pivotally mounted on said first and second lever means for relative swinging movement therebetween about axes which are spaced from the pivot axes of said lever means; and

first and second projection means mounted on said balance member adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, said first and second projection means being positioned for engagement by said first and second hook means, respectively.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said first and second lever means are each pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof, said third and fourth follower means being mounted adjacent the other end of said first and second lever means respectively, and said first and second hook means being respectively pivotally mounted on said first and second lever means at a location disposed intermediate the ends thereof.

7 A machine according to claim 6, wherein said first and second lever means are each crank shaped and have first and second fixedly connected arm portions extending at an angle relative to one another, and each said hook means being pivotally mounted on its respective lever means adjacent the junction of said first and second arm portions.

8. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said jack lever and said balance member are disposed on opposite sides of said shaft, and said tie-rod being positioned horizontally between said shafts and projecting outwardly on opposite sides thereof for pivotal connection to said balance member and said jack lever.

9. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the means pivotally connecting the other end of said tierod to said jack lever includes intermediate vertically swingable lever means pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement within a plane substantially parallel to the plane of swinging movement of said jack lever, the other end of said tie-rod being pivotally connected to said intermediate lever means, and a connecting rod extending between and pivotally connected to said intermediate lever means and said jack lever.

10. A machine according to claim 5, further including corresponding pairs of further eccentrics mounted on said upper and lower horizontal shafts, said further pairs of eccentrics being substantially identical to said first and second eccentrics, and further balance members coacting with each further pair of eccentrics, further pivotal jack levers corresponding with each of said further balance members, and further tie-rods pivotally connected between each of said further balance members and each of said further jack levers. 

1. In a dobby machine having a heald actuating device, said device comprising: upper and lower substantially horizontal shafts defining first and second rotational axes, respectively; first and second rotatable eccentrics mounted on said upper and lower shafts, respectively; a vertically oriented balance member positioned adjacent said shafts and movable within a vertical plane which is substantially perpendicular to said axes, said balance member having first and second follower means provided thereon adjacent the opposite ends thereof and disposed for engagement with the peripheries of said first and second eccentrics, respectively; a substantially horizontally elongated tie-rod having one end thereof pivotally connected to said balance member adjacent the Center thereof, said tie-rod being reciprocable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said shafts; guide means coacting with said tie-rod at least adjacent said one end thereof for permitting reciprocation of said tie-rod in said direction while substantially preventing vertical movement of said one end of said tie-rod; a jack lever and means mounting same for pivotal movement within a vertical plane which is substantially perpendicular to said axes, one end of said jack lever being connectable to a heald formation for actuating same; means pivotally interconnecting the other end of said tie-rod to said jack lever for causing pivotal movement thereof in response to reciprocation of said tie-rod; and resilient means resiliently urging said balance member toward said eccentrics whereby said first and second follower means are normally engaged with the peripheries of said first and second eccentrics, respectively.
 2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said jack lever and said balance member are disposed on opposite side of said shafts, and said tie-rod being positioned horizontally between said shafts and projecting outwardly on opposite sides thereof for pivotal connection to said balance member and said jack lever.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the means pivotally connecting the other end of said tie-rod to said jack lever includes intermediate vertically swingable lever means pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement within a plane substantially parallel to the plane of swinging movement of said jack lever, the other end of said tie-rod being pivotally connected to said intermediate lever means, and a connecting rod extending between and pivotally connected to said intermediate lever means and said jack lever.
 4. A machine according to claim 3, further including drive means drivingly connected to said upper and lower horizontal shafts for causing rotation of said upper and lower shafts and of the eccentrics mounted thereon in opposite directions.
 5. A machine according to claim 1, further including third and fourth rotatable eccentrics mounted on said upper and lower shafts, respectively, said third and fourth eccentrics being respectively coaxial and rotatable with said first and second eccentrics; first and second vertically swingable lever means respectively positioned adjacent said third and fourth eccentrics, said first and second lever means respectively having third and fourth follower means thereon positioned for engagement with the peripheries of said third and fourth eccentrics, respectively; pivot means swingably mounting said first and second lever means on said frame for swinging movement within vertical planes substantially perpendicular to the axes of said upper and lower shafts, said first and second lever means each being vertically swingable about an axis spaced from the axes of said upper and lower shafts; first and second hook means pivotally mounted on said first and second lever means for relative swinging movement therebetween about axes which are spaced from the pivot axes of said lever means; and first and second projection means mounted on said balance member adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, said first and second projection means being positioned for engagement by said first and second hook means, respectively.
 6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said first and second lever means are each pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof, said third and fourth follower means being mounted adjacent the other end of said first and second lever means respectively, and said first and second hook means being respectively pivotally mounted on said first and second lever means at a location disposed intermediate the ends thereof.
 7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said first and second lever means are each crank shaped and have first and second fixedly connected arm portions extending at an angle relative to one another, and each said hook means being pivotally mounted On its respective lever means adjacent the junction of said first and second arm portions.
 8. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said jack lever and said balance member are disposed on opposite sides of said shaft, and said tie-rod being positioned horizontally between said shafts and projecting outwardly on opposite sides thereof for pivotal connection to said balance member and said jack lever.
 9. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the means pivotally connecting the other end of said tie-rod to said jack lever includes intermediate vertically swingable lever means pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement within a plane substantially parallel to the plane of swinging movement of said jack lever, the other end of said tie-rod being pivotally connected to said intermediate lever means, and a connecting rod extending between and pivotally connected to said intermediate lever means and said jack lever.
 10. A machine according to claim 5, further including corresponding pairs of further eccentrics mounted on said upper and lower horizontal shafts, said further pairs of eccentrics being substantially identical to said first and second eccentrics, and further balance members coacting with each further pair of eccentrics, further pivotal jack levers corresponding with each of said further balance members, and further tie-rods pivotally connected between each of said further balance members and each of said further jack levers. 